Today's research has brought lots of good finds for me! I was able to locate my Maimone ancestors 1900 and 1910 US census records. They took some time due to misspellings of names, but I found them...yeah! By doing so I discovered that my great-great-grandparents came to the US in 1899 on the EMS. In the US they were known as Antonio and Maria/Mary Maimone, however on their ship manifest it has him listed as Donato Maimone and her listed as MA Rosa Le Vigue. Both from Roccanova, Italy. I am sure that this is their manifest because it notes that they were going to stay with their son Prospero in Birdsboro, PA. A very small town in PA where my great-grandfather Prospero Maimone resided. I am thinking that the "MA Rosa" may be short for Maria Rosa, but I am confused by her last name. Does this look French, not Italian? Are you aware of an Italian surname close to this Le Vigue name that could explain a misspelling? The link to the manifest is below. Thank you!
http://www.ellisisland.org/search/shipM ... 2997040035- Tricia

Good catch. I am constantly fooled by the "n" looks like a "u" thingie.

Having said that, Le Vigne still doesn't look very good from the standpoint of actually existing in Italy. The best I could come up with is a name I recall from my childhood in my hometown: La Vigna (pronounced La-VEEN-ya): http://www.paginebianche.it/execute.cgi ... +vigna&dv= But there is no doubt that the manifest seems to clearly have e's which I had to change to a's.

Wow, thank you Debi! This will prove most helpful I cannot translate it either so if anyone can help I would apopreciate it, however, when I look at the mother's name which begins bottom of first page and continues on top of second page it looks more like Maria Rosa le Vigora on here. Anyone else have a thought on this one? If able to translate maybe parents of mother and father are listed on here as well. Thanks again, Debi! this is a great find! - Tricia

The birth was recorded on the 26 of August 1869
Prospero Maimone born in Roccasecca on August 23, 1869
father Antonio son of Eleonora (this is the mother of Antonio), 28, farmer
mother Maria Rosa Le Vigne, daughter of Luigi, spinner, 26.

Birth Record #53 for Propero Maimone-
Dated Aug 26, 1869, at 1 P.M. The birth took place on the 23rd

Appearing was Antonio Maimone, the son of Eleanora, age 28, peasant/farmer. He presented the male infant born to his Maria Rosa leVigne, his wife, the daughter of Luigi. She was age 26, a spinner, and living with him. The infant was born in their house on Contrada (Tempa?) del Castello, which did not have a number, and was given the name Propsero.

Witnesses were: Vincenzo Robilotta, the son of deceased Giuseppantoio, age 60, a landowner and Vincenzo Marinelli, of deceaed Nicola, age 36, of the same profession. Both were living in Roccanova.

liviomoreno wrote:The birth was recorded on the 26 of August 1869Prospero Maimone born in Roccasecca on August 23, 1869 father Antonio son of Eleonora (this is the mother of Antonio), 28, farmermother Maria Rosa Le Vigne, daughter of Luigi, spinner, 26.

Livio, you meant Roccanova, correct?

Carmine

My hobby is finding things. Having found most of my own, I am happy to help others find theirs. PM me!

liviomoreno wrote:The birth was recorded on the 26 of August 1869Prospero Maimone born in Roccasecca on August 23, 1869 father Antonio son of Eleonora (this is the mother of Antonio), 28, farmermother Maria Rosa Le Vigne, daughter of Luigi, spinner, 26.

I'm on my way to get some naturalization papers so they may tell me more info. Thank you so much to ALL of you for this great information! Everyone here is so helpful and I hope as I work through my own family tree that I am able to assist others in their research as well. So, now that we see Maria Rosa's maiden name does appear to be Le Vigne...what are your thoughts? Is this an Italian surname? Her father's name was Luigi. Is this another mystery? Ha! Thank you again!
- Tricia

There is the surname Lavigna, which I thought of immediately when I saw the surname in the birth record. It is possible that the surname was written as both one word and also as two. In my own ancestry, I have La Pila and Lapila which was written both ways, even in the earlier records. So this could be a similar situation. La Vigna means the vineyard, and Le Vigne would be the plural.

Thank you, Peg! Now that I have his birth act and Maria Rosa's father's name I may be able to do more digging and I will keep your info about surnames in mind

I just got back from picking up some naturalization papers so I have some manifests to pull and more research to do. One thing that I did find out is that I do not believe that Prospero's parents Antonio and Maria Rosa ever became US citizens as I could not find naturalization papers for them. I did however find Prospero's and some members of other ancestors with differnt surnames. It's been a good day!